According to a doctor from the Boston Medical Center, it may be time to reexamine what we believe about the role alcohol plays in Florida car accidents. He conducted a study involving crash statistics from 2000 and 2015 and found that roughly 600,000 fatal car accidents took place on roads in Florida and throughout the United States. Of those crashes, 37% involved at least one driver who had alcohol in his or her system. However, not all of those drivers were at or above the legal limit.
Some argue that the legal limit should be lowered
The study’s author says that it can be dangerous to drink and drive even if you are below the traditional legal alcohol limit of .08%. In fact, research has shown that reducing that limit to .05% has resulted in fewer accidents. The state of Utah was the first to adopt the more restrictive standard, and it has been enacted in many countries throughout the world.
Impairment might occur after just one drink
One doctor from Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City says that a person with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of just .03% could be too impaired to drive. The researchers from Boston Medical Center agreed with that sentiment. For reference, consuming just one alcoholic beverage increases your BAC by about .02%.
Drivers aren’t the only ones in danger
The Boston researchers found that 55% of those who died during the study period were not driving the vehicles involved in the accidents. These individuals could be passengers in the vehicle that caused the crash, passengers in other vehicles or pedestrians.
Those who are injured in a car crash caused by the negligence of another motorist may want to consider having the assistance of a personal injury attorney. This may make it easier to obtain compensation in a settlement or from a jury.